Asbo otter

This lil chap had a thing about the rocks around him, kept picking them up and playing with them. Taken through glass, did try looking over the partition but then looking down on it so thought not a good angle.
Just resized on irfanview and upped the saturation slightly as looked so pale against the background. Have uploaded the original also so you can see. Feel he needs to be sharper but have a phobia of the sharpening tool!!!
All comments as usual gratefully received
Kathryn

Comments

Don't be afraid to use the sharpening tool, just don't overdo it, that's the trick, just keep your original and work on a copy, that way you always have the original to go back to. Shooting through glass isn't the easiest thing to do as it is harder to get focus, and it looks on this as if the camera has focussed on the centre of the shot, so the middle of the body is sharp and the head is not in focus.
Sharpening would improve this, but it won't make it pin sharp. Practice setting different focus points when shooting, so that you can then focus on what you feel is the main point of the image that you want sharp.
A contrast adjustment would also help make the otter stand out from the background, possibly more than the saturation adjustment, which can make the colours look a little false.

Don't be afraid to use the sharpening tool, just don't overdo it, that's the trick, just keep your original and work on a copy, that way you always have the original to go back to. Shooting through glass isn't the easiest thing to do as it is harder to get focus, and it looks on this as if the camera has focussed on the centre of the shot, so the middle of the body is sharp and the head is not in focus.
Sharpening would improve this, but it won't make it pin sharp. Practice setting different focus points when shooting, so that you can then focus on what you feel is the main point of the image that you want sharp.
A contrast adjustment would also help make the otter stand out from the background, possibly more than the saturation adjustment, which can make the colours look a little false.

Hi Katherine,
I've uploaded a mod. with a boost in contrast using an "S" curve and an adjustment to the colour as your original looks a bit red.
I've also sharpened it a little, probably too much as I never know how my mods. are going to look when they're uploaded and I've given him back the end of his tail!
With hindsight, I suppose that I could have added some catchlights to his eyes as well.
All done in CS5. I don't know whether or not you can clone bits (like his tail) using Ifranview as I've never used it but I think that it will allow you to make the other adjustments that I've made.
Presumably, this was taken with your S5700?
Hope this helps.
Bren.

Hi Katherine,
I've uploaded a mod. with a boost in contrast using an "S" curve and an adjustment to the colour as your original looks a bit red.
I've also sharpened it a little, probably too much as I never know how my mods. are going to look when they're uploaded and I've given him back the end of his tail!
With hindsight, I suppose that I could have added some catchlights to his eyes as well.
All done in CS5. I don't know whether or not you can clone bits (like his tail) using Ifranview as I've never used it but I think that it will allow you to make the other adjustments that I've made.
Presumably, this was taken with your S5700?
Hope this helps.
Bren.

Nice enough but a touch flat again. You need a bit more density and contrast. No info or camera details - can't remember if you stated camera type before.
Most compacts have a sharpening logarithm built in - this is often enough. Compact manufacturers assume there users will not be doing any image processing. If you use a DSLR there will still be in camera sharpening of JPG files, but you can adjust the amount. There will be no sharpening of RAW files.
You must consider the need to sharpen most digital files except from some compacts. Digital imaging produces less sharp images as standard and almost ALL digital files from a DSLR WILL REQUIRE SOME SHARPENING. Learning the correct amount is the critical bit.
Paul

Nice enough but a touch flat again. You need a bit more density and contrast. No info or camera details - can't remember if you stated camera type before.

Most compacts have a sharpening logarithm built in - this is often enough. Compact manufacturers assume there users will not be doing any image processing. If you use a DSLR there will still be in camera sharpening of JPG files, but you can adjust the amount. There will be no sharpening of RAW files.

You must consider the need to sharpen most digital files except from some compacts. Digital imaging produces less sharp images as standard and almost ALL digital files from a DSLR WILL REQUIRE SOME SHARPENING. Learning the correct amount is the critical bit.

Much better. Remember that Irfanview should have the "sharpen output" box clicked, and that sharpens the re sized file very well. You need NO OTHER sharpening other than this. Did this one have it selected to sharpen? So for a shot through glass, with a compact, I would think this is very good, is quite sharp enough, notwithstanding the various comments about contrast etc which is largely a product of the light available when shooting, and will always be low shooting through glass. You are definitely on the right track compared to the previous couple of shots.
W

Much better. Remember that Irfanview should have the "sharpen output" box clicked, and that sharpens the re sized file very well. You need NO OTHER sharpening other than this. Did this one have it selected to sharpen? So for a shot through glass, with a compact, I would think this is very good, is quite sharp enough, notwithstanding the various comments about contrast etc which is largely a product of the light available when shooting, and will always be low shooting through glass. You are definitely on the right track compared to the previous couple of shots.